The CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics was first published in 1914, seventy three years ago. The originator and publisher of a singe volume reference book to contain data primarily for chemists and physicists, but which would be useful to to there closely allied sciences was Arthur Friedman, a 1907 graduate of Case School of Applied Science. His Company, the Chemical Rubber Company, sold rubber tubing, stopper, aprons, and laboratory supplies primarily to high schools and colleges; there were very few industrial laboratories in America prior to World War I. A reference book as the CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics was a natural complement to those products being sold by the Chemical Rubber Company